Proverbs 1:8-33 - Heeding Wisdom's Call pt II

Introduction

- This morning we’re going to continue thinking about “Heeding Wisdom’s Call”
- remember that last week we began with this quote from Warren Wiersbe…
“The first nine chapters present two women—wisdom and folly personified—as they seek to win the attention and obedience of people in the city streets and squares”

- the implication of that to us is…
1) Are we being careful at discerning the voices we are listening to?
2) Are we helping our children/grandchildren be careful at the voices they listen to?

- we were able to get through part of chapter 1 last week, let’s read the verses again and then look at the second half of the chapter today.

- read 1:8-33

- we’ve talked about…

I. The Voice of Instruction [vv. 8-10, 15-19]

A. The parent’s teaching – vv 8-10
B. The parent’s challenge – vv 15-17

- let’s pick it up where the parent tries to help his children with two important issues [hit the parts you hand to breeze over last week]
- he makes two very important points to his child about temptation:

1. Choose your friends wisely.

- cf. Psa. 1;1, II Cor. 6:14-18

- INPUT – Practical ways a parent can help a young person make wise decisions about friendships?

2. Don’t play with temptation.

- verse 17 emphasizes how sin is like a trap.
- it might seem funny, something you can entertain or play with, but it will trap you.
- Wiersbe – “Birds don’t take bait when they can plainly see the trap, and people ought to be smarter than birds.”

- INPUT – Categories of behavior in which this is true?

- INPUT – How does our world often present a different view?

C. The parent’s warning – vv 18-19

- INPUT – How would you summarize the point of verses 18-19? What point is the parent trying to get across?

- INPUT – Why is it so difficult for young people to get this point? What ways have you found to be especially effective in communicating it?

II. The Voice of Temptation – vv. 11-14

- we said earlier that we were going to treat these verses separately because the father converts to the first person.
- INPUT – Why would he be using this teaching method? [he wants his child to understand “what temptation sounds like”.]

- Temptation is illustrated as having a threefold approach in this passage…

- [Marty – could do a neighbor nudge and encourage folks to summarize temptation’s three-fold approach in verses 11-14. Feel free to teach it in whatever way suits you best]

A. Join us as we take advantage of the weak.

- [point out that this often starts in school when the weakest/ poorest/ least intelligent/ glamorous are selected by the others and picked on. The message, stated or unstated, is very similar to what we’re reading in these verses]

- INPUT - How can we teach our children to protect the weak instead of exploiting them?

B. We will profit materially from these pursuits.

- INPUT – How does this fit in with what we discussed last week regarding worship and obedience?

C. We will share with you.

- cf. v. 14

- INPUT – How do these kinds of relationships often turn out? We need to teach our children that if our friends will bad-mouth the one person who doesn’t happen to be present at the time, they will badmouth them when they aren’t around.

III. The Voice of Salvation – vv 20-33

A. How does wisdom speak?

- v. 20 – in clear tones, wisdom is calling out for people to listen.
- we need to ask ourselves, and our children…what voices have your allegiance?

B. Where does wisdom speak?

- v. 20 – in the crowded streets, the marketplace, public places
- INPUT – What is the implication here for evangelism?

- Wiersbe – “The message of God’s truth is made for the marketplace, not the ivory tower.”

C. To whom does wisdom speak?

1. the simple

- people who believe anything but examine nothing [cf. 14:15]

2. the scorners

- think they know everything and laugh at what is important

3. fools

- people who are ignorant of truth because they are dull and stubborn

INPUT – How can this information be helpful to us?

D. What does wisdom say?

1. brings an indictment

- cf. v. 22

2. issues an invitation

- cf. v 23

Adult Bible Fellowship
Heeding Wisdom’s Call
Proverbs Series #6
Introduction

Wiersbe – “The first nine chapters present two women–wisdom and folly personified–as they seek to win the attention and obedience of people in the city streets and squares”

I. The Voice of Instruction [1:8-10, 15-19]
A. The parent’s teaching – vv. 8-10
B. The parent’s challenge – vv. 15-17
1. Choose your friends wisely.
2. Don’t play with temptation.

Wiersbe – “Birds don’t take bait when they can plainly see the trap, and people ought to be smarter than birds.”

C. The parent’s __________________ – vv. 18-19

II. The Voice of _____________________ [vv. 11-14]

A. Join us as we take advantage of the ___________.

B. We will profit ___________________ from these pursuits.

C. We will ______________ with you.

III. The Voice of _____________________ [vv. 20-33]
A. ___________ does wisdom speak?

B. ___________ does wisdom speak?

Wiersbe – “The message of God’s truth is made for the marketplace, not the ivory tower.”

C. To ___________ does wisdom speak?
1. the _____________

2. the _____________

3. ___________

D. What does wisdom _________?
1. brings an _________________

2. issues an _________________

Adult Bible Fellowship
Heeding Wisdom’s Call
Proverbs Series #6
Introduction
Wiersbe – “The first nine chapters present two women–wisdom and folly personified–as they seek to win the attention and obedience of people in the city streets and squares”

I. The Voice of Instruction [1:8-10, 15-19]

A. The parent’s teaching – vv. 8-10
B. The parent’s challenge – vv. 15-17
1. Choose your friends wisely.
2. Don’t play with temptation.
Wiersbe – “Birds don’t take bait when they can plainly see the trap, and people ought to be smarter than birds.”
C. The parent’s warning – vv. 18-19

II. The Voice of Temptation [vv. 11-14]

A. Join us as we take advantage of the weak.
B. We will profit materially from these pursuits.
C. We will share with you.

III. The Voice of Salvation [vv. 20-33]

A. How does wisdom speak?
B. Where does wisdom speak?
Wiersbe – “The message of God’s truth is made for the marketplace, not the ivory tower.”
C. To whom does wisdom speak?
1. the simple
2. the scorners
3. fools
D. What does wisdom say?
1. brings an indictment
2. issues an invitation